An architect built a perfectly circular summer home on an island for his family in 1971. Now, it's on the market for $1.9 million check it out.
Amanda Goh
![An architect built a perfectly circular summer home on an island for his family in 1971. Now, it's on the market for $1.9 million — check it out.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-94822040%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-210290%2Fan-architect-built-a-perfectly-circular-summer-home-on-an-island-for-his-family-in-1971-now-itaposs-on-the-market-for-1-9-million-ampmdash-check-it-out-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
- A group of private islands in Ontario's Georgian Bay is on the market for $1.9 million.
- Collectively known as Table Rock Islands, there are seven islands included in the sale.
Instead of one private island, why not have seven? Ontario's Table Rock Islands are on the market for 2.65 million Canadian dollars, or $1.9 million, and they come with a spaceship-like home.
![Instead of one private island, why not have seven? Ontario](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822187,width-700,height-525,imgsize-138548/instead-of-one-private-island-why-not-have-seven-ontarioaposs-table-rock-islands-are-on-the-market-for-2-65-million-canadian-dollars-or-1-9-million-and-they-come-with-a-spaceship-like-home-.jpg)
The islands are in Lake Huron's Georgian Bay. The house, also known as Table Rock Cottage, sits on the biggest island of the collection.
Canadian architect William Grierson built Table Rock Cottage in 1971 as a summer retreat for his family, per the listing.
"The island is accessible only by boat. As children, my brother and I spent entire summers there and family friends would come to stay," Sarah Waterfield, the current owner and Grierson's daughter, told Insider.
George Webster with Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty holds the listing.
In addition to the main island with the cottage, there are six smaller, undeveloped islands included in the sale.
![In addition to the main island with the cottage, there are six smaller, undeveloped islands included in the sale.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822184,width-700,height-525,imgsize-428944/in-addition-to-the-main-island-with-the-cottage-there-are-six-smaller-undeveloped-islands-included-in-the-sale-.jpg)
One of those islands is a one-acre rock island known as "Moby Dick." The other five islands range between a half-acre and one acre in size, per the listing.
Houses in Georgian Bay have an average house price of CAD $1.2 million, per data from Canadian real-estate platform Zolo.com.
Currently, 12 private islands in Georgian Bay are for sale, with prices ranging from CAD $3.5 million to CAD $1.1 million, per real-estate platform Private Islands Inc, which is dedicated to island properties. The Table Rock Islands package is in the mid-price range.
Grierson decided to build his summer home on the biggest island of the cluster due to its level ground and sheltered harbor.
![Grierson decided to build his summer home on the biggest island of the cluster due to its level ground and sheltered harbor.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822182,width-700,height-525,imgsize-317616/grierson-decided-to-build-his-summer-home-on-the-biggest-island-of-the-cluster-due-to-its-level-ground-and-sheltered-harbor-.jpg)
The islands were uninhabited when Grierson bought them in 1965, according to an excerpt from a book about Grierson's career that Waterfield sent to Insider. Titled "William Grierson: Selected Works," it was written by Grierson's wife, Joan, together with writer Alex Champlin.
The only sign that anyone else had ever been on the island before Grierson was a brass plaque left behind by the Hydrographic Services of Canada as a record of their visit in 1961, per the book.
The interior floors of the 2,800-square-feet Table Rock Cottage are the island's rock surface.
![The interior floors of the 2,800-square-feet Table Rock Cottage are the island](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822179,width-700,height-525,imgsize-291852/the-interior-floors-of-the-2800-square-feet-table-rock-cottage-are-the-islandaposs-rock-surface-.jpg)
The house's wide, sloping roof is held up by 24 concrete columns placed along the exterior perimeter of the house, per the book. At the core of each column is a metal rod that's embedded into the ground to ensure that the building can withstand storms.
"Even on rainy days, there is a wonderful sense of ease and we gather by the fire to play board games and drink tea," Waterfield said.
The living, dining, and kitchen areas share an open-concept layout. Large windows and doors provide panoramic views of the surrounding water.
![The living, dining, and kitchen areas share an open-concept layout. Large windows and doors provide panoramic views of the surrounding water.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822177,width-700,height-525,imgsize-227350/the-living-dining-and-kitchen-areas-share-an-open-concept-layout-large-windows-and-doors-provide-panoramic-views-of-the-surrounding-water-.jpg)
Waterfield and her brother spent lots of time playing in the waves — fishing, snorkeling, and even sailing.
"Back then, summer time seemed endless," Waterfield said. "It is a very special place and has its own rhythm, as islands do."
Grierson incorporated the island's rock into various features of the home. The base of the dining table is also dotted with rocks.
![Grierson incorporated the island](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822174,width-700,height-525,imgsize-257538/grierson-incorporated-the-islandaposs-rock-into-various-features-of-the-home-the-base-of-the-dining-table-is-also-dotted-with-rocks-.jpg)
The island is remote, but Waterfield said there was plenty to do every summer when they were there.
"Far from idle, we were always busy working on the next project — whether it was building a new dock, building a boathouse, or even painting dining chairs," Waterfield added.
The house is powered by solar panels, making it completely off-grid.
![The house is powered by solar panels, making it completely off-grid.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822166,width-700,height-525,imgsize-219280/the-house-is-powered-by-solar-panels-making-it-completely-off-grid-.jpg)
Table Rock Cottage was powered by an oil generator when it was first constructed. Grierson installed solar panels in the 1980s, per the book.
There are eight bedrooms in the house, and each one has a screened door that leads directly outside.
![There are eight bedrooms in the house, and each one has a screened door that leads directly outside.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822163,width-700,height-525,imgsize-227290/there-are-eight-bedrooms-in-the-house-and-each-one-has-a-screened-door-that-leads-directly-outside-.jpg)
"The building allows for many people, so everyone has their own space and it never feels crowded," Waterfield said.
There are four bathrooms in the house.
![There are four bathrooms in the house.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822159,width-700,height-525,imgsize-190064/there-are-four-bathrooms-in-the-house-.jpg)
For the water and plumbing system, Grierson had to blast open the rock bed on the island and create a trench where he could place the pipes, per the book.
Outside, Grierson built a mechanical dock that could be raised and lowered into the water to protect it from powerful storms.
![Outside, Grierson built a mechanical dock that could be raised and lowered into the water to protect it from powerful storms.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822151,width-700,height-525,imgsize-190884/outside-grierson-built-a-mechanical-dock-that-could-be-raised-and-lowered-into-the-water-to-protect-it-from-powerful-storms-.jpg)
When the house was built, Grierson had floating docks installed, per the book. However, they were often damaged by strong winds and heavy rain, which caused them to detach and float out into the open water.
After over five decades with the Grierson family, it's time for Table Rock Islands to find a new owner.
![After over five decades with the Grierson family, it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-94822149,width-700,height-525,imgsize-70634/after-over-five-decades-with-the-grierson-family-itaposs-time-for-table-rock-islands-to-find-a-new-owner-.jpg)
"The site is spectacular, with extraordinary sunsets, shooting stars, and August moons. There is no other place like it on earth," Waterfield said.
Got a home, renovation, or story you think Insider should feature in its real-estate coverage? Email this reporter at agoh@insider.com.
Popular Right Now
Advertisement